Tube securing key



Patented Sept. ll, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE- TUBE SECUItING KEY Clarence Moen, Spokane, Wash., assignor to Moen Ladder Company, Inc., SpokaneaWash.

Application March 25, 1950, Serial No. 151,860

s claims. (cl. 28h-54') This invention relates to an improved fastener or keyby means of which tubes are secured to each other, itbeing one object of the invention to provide a key which is inserted into tubes "and 'serves to firmly hold one tube in laterally disposed relation to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key of such formation that it may be veasily .forced through a tube transversely thereof and l into an end portion of another tube disposed transversely of the rst tube in abutting relation thereto and firmly hold the two tubes together vwithout it being necessary to employ welding,

riveting, or other securing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key so formed that when it is drivenY through a tube transversely thereof and into an open end of' a second tube abutting a side portion of the rst tube movement of the key through the rst tube will be limited and in additiona tight gripping engagement established between Vrthe The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a View partially in side elevation and partially in section showing tubes held together by a key of the improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the key shown in Figure l. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional View upon an enlarged lscale'taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 through 8 are perspective views of keys having modified formations. A

The tubes I and 2 represent two tubes forming portions of any structure which may be formed of metal tubes or pipes, and referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the tube 2 is disposed transversely of the tube I with its end abutting the inner side portion of the tube I and so cut that it has snug fitting engagement with the tube l for approximately half the circumference thereof. Longitudinally extending slots 3 and 4 are formed in inner and outer side portion of the tube I in opposed relation to each other diametrically of the tube, the slot 4 being of somewhat greater length than the slot 3 and extending towards opposite ends of the tube equal distances beyond ends of the slot 3. When the tube 2 is to be connected with the tube I it is disposed transversely thereof with its end in -tive t0 the tube I.

abutting engagement with the inner side portion of tube ,I and is shifted valong the tube I until the slot 3 is enclosed by the tube, 2 and extends diametrically thereof. A- key v5 is then passed inwardly throughv the slot 4 of tube ,I and diametrically through this tube `until its inner end passes through slot 3 and vinto the tube 2 longitudinally thereof. f

The key is formedv of metal and may b'e stamped from thick sheet aluminum or. other suitable metal and has an elongated shank 6 and a head 'I at the outeror rear end of the shank. The front end ofv the shank hasdiagonally extending beveledcorners 8 in order to allow the key to be readily forced into the vtube 2 through the slot 3. For the major portion of its length the shank 6 of the key is of a width substantially corresponding to the diameter of the tube 2but close to the front end of the head 'I the shank is of increased widthin order to form shoulof the tube I at opposite ends of the slot 3. VVAt- Y tention is also calledto the fact thatedge faces I0 of the shank 6 are flat and intersect the side faces of the shankat right angles thereto, thus .K forming the` shank-with sharp longitudinally 30 extending edges II, Since vthe width of the shank is substantially the same as the diameter of the tube 2 its edges II willcut grooves or ridges I2 in the-inner surface ofthe wall lof the tube as the key is driven forwardly into, the tube and cause the tube tovbe more firmlyV held against slipping out of its proper position rela- The rearl end of the head 1 is flush with the outer surface of the tube I Y so that it can not begrasped and pulled outwardly and as the key has tight frictional binding engagement with portions ofthe two tubes it will be firmly held inplace without being welded to the tubes and Vadditional meansfor holding the tubes in assembled relation to each other is not needed. '1

In Figure 4 there. has been shown akey 'I3 which is similar to the key 5 except that its shank I4 has edge faces I 5 which are arcuate transversely and the shank is not formed with shoulders at its head end corresponding to the shoulders 9 of the key 5. In this embodiment of the invention the key is driven into place, the same as key 5, and as the transversely arcuate edge faces of the shank conform to the curvature of the diametrically opposed portions of the wall o! of key is used for connecting to the tube I a tube,

2 which extends diagonally of the tube I at aV` downward incline instead of at right angl'esnto the tube I. The slots formed in the tube I will have their upper and lower ends cut to conformto the incline of the edge faces of the shanky and the head of the key I6. By so forming the key VI6 its; shank will be directed into a downwardly inclined tube 2 when it is driven through the tube I and into the tube 2 and the two tubes held tightly together.

The keys 20 and 2 I shown in Figures and 7 are similar to those shown in Figures 2 and 4 but are thicker and whilethe tube I will be formed with an elongated opening or slot in its outer side portion to receive the heads of these keys the opening in the inner side portion of the tube must be square in order to receive the shank of these keys. The key 20 has a shank 22 which is square in cross section and its: upper and lower surfaces are unobstructed throughout its length, the free endof the shank being formed with bevelled surfaces 23 so that it may be easily forced into the `tube' 2. The key 2If is quite similar to that shown in Fig-ure 6 since its shank 24 is substantially square in crosssection, but along its side edges this shank is formedV with beveled surfaces 25 and its outer endis cut straight across instead of being formed with beveled surfaces corresponding to the surfaces 213.

Figure 8v shows another modified form of key. This key 26 resembles a rivet and has a shank 21 which` is circular in cross section and a circular head 2B at its outer or rear end. Circular openings are formed in side portions of the tube IV to receive this key and' the head 28` bears against 'the outer surface ofthe tube about the opening in the outer side portion thereof. The front end ofthe shank 21 is beveled, as shown at 29, so that when the key is driven into place it will iit verytightly in the tube 1 and frictionally 'grip the wall of' the tube and: firmly hold tube 2 in abuttingengagement with the inner side portion of tube I.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedis:

1f. A tube, a second tube disposed transversely of the first tube with anend abutting a side portion of the first tube, the first tube being formed l'with a longitudinally Vextending inner slot disposeddiametricaliy ofthe second tube andwith a second longitudinally extending sl'ot in its outer position opposite its first: slot, and a key having a fiat head extending through the first tube and the second slot thereof, and aflat body extending from. the head. and` through the rstrslot; and into the second tube longitudinally thereof, said key having portions of its head projecting from opposite side edges of the key and abutting the inner surface of the first tube adjoining opposite ends of the inner slot, and the body of the key being formed with shoulders located at its junction with the head and gripping the inner surface of the second tube.

2. A, tube, a second tube. extending transverse- 1y of the first tube and having one end disposed in abutting engagement with an inner side portion of the wall of the first tube, the first tube having its inner side portion formed with an opening encircled by the end of the second tube and its outer side portion formed with an opening opposite the inner opening, and a key having a. hea-dy passing transversely through the rst tube with its outer end fitting into the outer opening, and a shank for said key extending from the head thereof through the inner opening of the first tube and into the second tube longi-v tudinally thereof in tight fitting frictional gripping engagement therewith to securely hold the tubes together.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the key is fiat and is formed of hard metal and has a rectangular head and an elongated shank extending from the inner end of the head, said shank having a portion adjoining the head widened and forming extensionsv projecting from side edges of the shank.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein the key has a head at its outel` end and a shank extending longitudinally from the head, the free endof the shank being formed with beveled surfaces facilitating insertion of the key into tubes to be secured together.

5. The structure of claim- 2 wherein the key has a head and a shank extending from the inner end of the head at a downward incline.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein the key has a head and a shank extending longitudinally from the inner end of the head, said shank having flat side faces and transversely arcuate edge faces.

1. The structure. of claim 2 wherein the key has a head and a shank extending longitudinally from the inner end thereof, the shank being substantially rectangular in cross section and having beveled longitudinally extending beveled corner portions.

8. A key for securing a tube in laterally disposed abutting. engagement with anther tube, said key comprising a head of dimensions adapting it to be passed transversely through the second tube and have its outer end fitting into an opening in the outer side portion of the said tube, and a shank extending from said head and of dimensions adapting it to. pass throughl an opening inthe inner side portion of the said tube and longitudinally in the first tube with its edge faces frictionally gripping the. inner surface of the Wall of the-last mentioned tube.

CLARENCE MOEN.

No references cited. 

